Browser drafting tool

Guitar Tab Maker

Capture a riff in a six-string grid, hear its pitch and rhythm, preview clean tablature, and export it without an account or upload.

Song setup

Six strings · high string 1 to low string 6

BPM

Enter notes

Bar 1 · Beat 1 · String 1 (E4) · empty

Try an original example:

Bar 1

String
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1 · E4
2 · B3
3 · G3
4 · D3
5 · A2
6 · E2

Bar 2

String
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1 · E4
2 · B3
3 · G3
4 · D3
5 · A2
6 · E2

Keyboard: digits enter frets · X enters dead · arrows move · Delete clears

Preview and export

Playback previews pitch and rhythm; technique symbols are preserved in notation and exports.

Playback position0/16
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How to make a guitar tab

  1. 1. Set up the song. Name the idea, then choose tuning, capo, tempo, meter, and a quarter-, eighth-, or sixteenth-note grid.
  2. 2. Enter the frets. Select a string and beat, type a fret from 0 to 24, and place multiple strings in one column when they sound together.
  3. 3. Check and share the draft. Hear the pitch and rhythm, inspect the live tablature, then print it or export a format that fits the next step in your workflow.

Strings, frets, and rhythm in the grid

The top row is high string 1 and the bottom row is low string 6, matching conventional guitar tablature. A number names the fret, 0 means an open string, and X marks a dead note. Each vertical column is one rhythmic slice; notes on several rows in the same column form a chord. Bar lines and the chosen grid keep timing visible without requiring standard-notation entry.

Technique markings

Add a hammer-on or pull-off, legato slide, vibrato, palm mute, or let-ring marking to a fretted note. Dead notes are a separate X entry with no definite pitch. These markings appear in the professional preview and supported exports; browser playback remains an honest pitch-and-rhythm check rather than a full guitar-performance simulation.

Alternate tunings and capo

Start with Standard, Drop D, DADGAD, half-step down, whole-step down, or Open G. Custom mode exposes the MIDI pitch of all six strings, ordered high to low, for another six-string setup. The capo raises playback pitch and is recorded once in notation and exported files.

Guitar tab export formats

Guitar Pro 7+ keeps structured tablature for compatible editors. Standard MIDI carries the notes, tempo, and rhythm into music software. alphaTex is the notation source for technical workflows, while ASCII text creates a portable monospaced tab. Print / save PDF opens a dedicated print view and lets the browser choose paper or PDF output.

Guitar Tab Maker FAQ

How do I enter frets and chords?
Select a grid cell and type a fret from 0 to 24, or use the persistent fret controls. Put notes on several strings in the same beat column to make a chord. Enter X for a dead note and use the arrow keys to move through the grid.
Can I use alternate tunings and a capo?
Yes. Choose Standard, Drop D, DADGAD, half-step down, whole-step down, or Open G, or set six custom string pitches. Capo positions 0 through 12 are reflected in playback and exports.
Which guitar techniques are supported?
The editor supports hammer-on or pull-off, legato slide, vibrato, palm mute, let ring, and dead-note markings. The symbols are preserved in the notation and exported files.
Which formats can I export?
You can export Guitar Pro 7+, Standard MIDI, alphaTex source, and aligned ASCII text. Print / save PDF opens a print-ready view so you can use your browser’s print or PDF destination.
Does playback reproduce every guitar technique?
No. Playback is a pitch-and-rhythm preview with an acoustic-guitar sound. Technique markings remain visible in notation and exports, but effects such as slides, dead notes, and palm muting are not claimed as fully synthesized articulations.
Is my tab private, and where is it saved?
Your work stays in this browser’s local storage and is never uploaded by this tool. There is no account or cloud collaboration, so clearing browser storage can remove the saved tab.
Can I use the editor on mobile or with a keyboard?
Yes. Every cell and control is touch-sized for phone editing. On a hardware keyboard, digits enter frets, X enters a dead note, Delete clears, and the arrow keys move between beats, strings, and bars.
Can this tool transcribe a recording into guitar tab automatically?
No. This is a visual six-string tab editor for notes you enter yourself. It does not listen to audio, identify a song, or automatically transcribe a recording.

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